Sulfur-smelting apparatus.



PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907'. E. F. WHITE. .SULFUR SMELTING APPARATUS;

APPLIOATIONPILED JULY 11, 1906.

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EDWARD F. WHITE, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SULFUR-SMELTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 19, 1907.

7 Application filed July 11.1906. Serial No. szaez z.

Tom/l whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. WHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements inSulfur-smelting Apparatus, of which the following is a specineation.

The invcntionrelates to an improvement in ore-smelting apparatus,primarily designed for smelting sulfur ore. v

The main object of the invention is the production of an apparatusconstructed and arranged to permit the utilization of the maximumavailable space within the smeltingcyiinder as an ore-space, whereby toincrease the product of the apparatus in a given time, minimize thenecessary steam consumption, and materially reduce the cost of thesmelting operation.

Another object of the present invention is the production of anore-charging car which is particularly constructed to provide for itsmaximum life and eiliciency as a sulfur-ore carrier, the construction ofthe car providing for the ready smelting of the ore while within the carand for the automatic discharge of the refuse ore after smelting. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tap-valve manuallycontrolled for communication with the sump and so constructed as toprovide for a continuous and even discharge of the sulfur, the-valvebeing particularly designed to continuously subject the sulfur to theaction of heat, whereby to cause the discharge of the sulfur in a liquidcondition to avoid the usual solidification incident to the effect ofthe atmosphere upon the sulfur.

With the above and other obiects in view the invention consists incertain details of construction and con'ibinations of parts, which willbe fully described in the following s 'iecification, reference being hadparticularly to the accompanying drawings, in v which-- Figure 1 is aview in section, partly in ele- *ation, of an ore-smelter constructed inaccordance with. my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of theore-charging car; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the same; Fig. 4, alongitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection of theiinproved tap- 'alve and Fig. 6 is a transverse horizontalsection of the same, takenon the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, 1 represents the usual smelting-cylinder, having aremovable head 'movements of the ore-charging car 7'.

So far as essential or the purposes of the present invention thesmelting-cylinder may be of any usual or preferred construction, the

form shown in the drawings being the ordinary form and being intended torepresent any desired type of cylinder.

The car 7 for use with the smelting-cylinder is sectionally constructed,comprising a perforated castiron bottom 8, centrally and longitudinallyhipped to provide inclined sections 9 extending from the longitudinalcenter of the bottom to the side edges. At appropriate distances fromthe respective ends the bottom is shaped to provide atransversely-disposed section 10 and raised end sections 11, all of saidsections being formed by bending the material of the bottom or propercasting as may be necessary. The central section 10 is on a plane withthe highest point of the bottom and provides a support for hangers 12, nwhich is mounted an axle. The sections 1.1 of the bottom are rounded inlongitudinal section and form housings for the wheels 14, secured u onthe ends of the axle 13. The relatively ee end of the housings 11terminate Within the plane of the bottom, the open ends thereof beyondthe wheels being closed by half-round coverplates 15, the lower edges ofwhich are in' alinement with the free edges of the bottom 8. The wheels14 are thus completely housed against admission of the flowing sulfurduring the snwlting operation.

. The end sections of the car, as 16, are api at their relatively upperedges and shaped at their relatively lower edges to fit the doubleincline of the bottom. The ends are secured proximatelycylindricalinplan, beingsqu-ared Y to the bottom in any approved manner, as by fixedsections 18 extend from the upper v squared portion of the ends to apoint about midway their height, being secured in place by angle-ironconnections 20. The movable sections are shaped to conform to thecurvature of the peripheral edges of the ends and are movably supportedfrom the fixed sec tions by hinges 21, comprising the usual duplicate-members and secured on the inner surfaces of the respective sections.point of connection of. the dumping-sections with the fixedsections isat the place of greatest width of the car, said sections will swing toopen position by gravity, and to provide for holding the dumping-sectionin closed position I provide said sections with laterallyprojecting cars22 and arranged for engagement with said ear's latch members 23, whichare pivotally supported on the ends of the car. To avoid projectionbeyond the plane of the car, the ears 22 are disposed, with theirengaging portions within the plane of the ends,

and the nose or free ends of the latches 23 terminate within the planeof the peripheral edge of the ends. I

- Both the fixed and dumping sections of the car are perforated for theescape of the .material, the perforations of the fixed sections beingomitted from the transverse central portion thereof, as shown.

As described the ore-charging car of this invention includes aperforated cast-iron bottom having a-double-inclined surface, whichbottom is formed to provide for supporting the axles of the wheels andto form complete housings for the wheels. The ends of the car areapproximately circular in plan and are rigidly secured to the bottom,said ends in turn forming a support for the car sides. The sides of thecar are each made in two sections, the upper sections being fixed withrelation to the car-body and the lower section movable, the latter beingarranged for hinged connection with the fixed section and so disposed asto gravitate to open position.

Through the squared portion of the car ends a relatively large openingis provided to p'ro vide for charging the car, while the move ment ofthe dumping-sections when released from the latches provides for theautomatic discharge of the contents of the car when desired. Theperforations in the car-body permits a free flowof the liquid, sulfur,as will be evident. p

The smeltingcylinder, as shown, is practically circular incross-section, and the orecharging car shown and described is alsoapproximately circular in cross-section. The diameter of the car is tobe but slightly less than the interior diameter of the cylinder,

As the eration with the track 6 of the cylinder, said track, as is usualin ores melting apparatus. being a continuation of the mine-track, sothat cars loaded at any appropriate point may be readily conveyed to andplaced within the cylinder.

The relative sizes of the car and cylinder are such that when the car isin place within the cylinder an annular space is provided between thecar and cylinder wall.. The smelting agent, as steam, is admitted to thecylinder through the medium of a supply-pipe 24: and completely envelopsthe ear, acting through its heating quality to smelt the ore in awell-known manner. As the size of the car relative to that of thecylinder is such as to leave a comparatively sinallannular space betweenthe cylinder and car wall, it wiil be obvious that the. steamconsumption is reduced to a minimum, while at the same time providingfor the maximum quantity of ore affected in the smelting operation. Asthis result by leading to the economy in steam consumption and at thesame time increasing the ore capacity of the cylinder materially reducesthe cost of operation of the smelter and is directly due to the shapeand size of the car relative to that of the cylinder, it will beunderstood that the relative size and shape of the ore-charging car, aswell as the detailed construction of the car, are important and materialparts of the present invention.

The smelting-cylinder is formed with an outlet 25, having a dependingflanged wall 20,

to which wall is remo vably secured the usual sump or sulfur-receiver27. The sump shown is of usual construction, having a removableperforated head-plate 28, through which the material is passed to thebody of the sump. The sump illustrated acts as a direct receiver for theliquid sulfur and is jacketed at 29 to provide a space 30, surroundingthe wall of the sump, for the reception of steam or other heating mediumfor a purpose which will later appear.

In ordinary smelting apparatus the discharge from the sump is through atapvalve, by which the sulfur is delivered to any desired receptacle. Inapparatus of this character the construction of the delivery or tapvalve is of importance, it being highly desirable that the sulfur bedelivered therefrom in liquid form and in even steady flow.

under certain inherent conditions solidifying to such an extent as toentirely choke the valve. It is one of the prime objects of the presentinvention to provide a tap-valve of such construction as to prevent thecooling of the sulfur and at the same time provide for the expansion ofthe material, thereby insuring the discharge of the sulfur in acontinuous liquid stream of even flow.

The tap-valve forming part of this inven tion comprises a metallic'body31 of approximately conical form in section and having alaterally-disposed neck 32, flanged at the free end, as at 33, wherebyto permit the securing of the valve inproper position relative to thedischarge-opening of the sump. The body 31 is formed with acentrally-disposed plug-seat 34, extending vertically through the bodyand opening through the respective upper and lower surfaces thereof,

' The wall of the seat is entire, except for the 1ninium36, this liningforming the bearing ports hereinafter referred to, and between said walland the wall of the body proper the body is hollow, as at 35, to providea jacket or steam-space designed to be supplied with a heating medium,as steam, through an in let 36, as shown. The wall of the plug-seat islined with an acid-resisting metal, as alufor the valvelug, hereinafterreferred to. The valve-boc y is formed with a transversely-arranged port37, communicating at one end. with the discharge-opening of the sump andextending through the lining 36 of the plug-seat. The port 37 extendstransverse the jacket-space of the body, the latter being in the form ofa pipe-section 3.8, joining the wall of the plug-seat and the wall ofthe valve-body.

Within the plug-seat, which, as before stated, is in the form of aninverted truncated cone, is arran ed the valve-plug 39, said plug beinga ho low cast-iron body accurately fitting to the lining of theplug-seat and provided at the lower end with a-discharge-spout 40. Theopening 41 within the valve-plug corresponds in shape to the exteriorshape of the plug, so that the greatest area of said opening is at theupper portion ofthe plug.

The upper surface of the plug is approximately flush with the uppersurface of the valve-body, belng centrally provided with a projectingstem 42, squared at the upper end' for the reception of a suitableoperating-tool. The plug is secured Within the seat through 3 the mediumof a cover 43, formed with a central opening to permit passage of'thestem 42, the cover being secured to the valve-body and held spaced fromthe upper surface of the plug through the medium of a layer 44 ofasbestos or the like interposed between the' cover and body. .The wallof the central opening in the cover is threaded for the reception of agland-nut45, snugly fitting the stem of the valve-plug and exteriorlythreaded for engagement with the threaded opening in the cover. Thelower end of the gland bears upon the upper surrace of the valveplug toprovide for adjusting the plug relative to the seat, a lock-nut 46serving to secure the parts in adjusted position. The wall of the plugis formed with a port 47, designed in a certain position of the plug toaline with the port 37 in the valve-body and thereby provide anuninterrupted passage from the sump through the spout 40 of the valve.By preference the port 4.7 is approximately elliptical in shape toprovide ror the moreready control of-the flow of the sulfur. Thevalve-body is formed with an opening 48, diametrically alining'with theport 37, while the valve-plug is also formed with an opening 49,diametrically alining with the port 47. The opening 48 opens through thewall of the body and is interiorly threaded for the reception of a plug50, as seen in Fig. 5. The arrangement of the openings 48 and49.provides for an uninterrupted opening extending Wholly through thevalve-body and i valve-phu for convenience in clearing or cleaning thevalve.

The jacket of the valve-body, as Well as that of the sump,is to besupplied with steam or other heating agent from any suitable source,both jackets in the use of steam being preferably formed with valvedoutlets to provide for the escape of condensation when necessary. 1 Theoperation of theimproved apparatus is fully apparent from the abovedescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, itbeing understood that so far as the smelting and delivery of the sulfuris concerned the present invention does not differ materially inoperation from the usual apparatus. In connection with the delivery orthe sulfur however, it is to be noted that the plug or the tap-valve isso formed to pro- 'vide an interior expansion-chamber and is at alltimes maintained 1n a highly-heated condition through themedium oi thesteamjacket. The expansive force exerted upon the material by theflashing of the contained \vaterand steam, as hereinabove.re'imed to, isthus effectually provided for and the sulfur caused to flow from thedischarge-spout in a continuous even stream. The heated condition of thetap-valve prevents the cooling of the sulfur by the absorption beforenoted, so that the sulfur flows from. said valve in liquidfo'rm. Thesalient and im portant features therefore of the present invention arethe ore-charging car and the tapvalve. The car is of the maximumcapacity for the smelting-cylinder and is shaped similar to that of thecylinder, being relatively of slightly less size. The full effect of thesmelting medium is thus gained, as saidmedium reaches all portions ofthe car to effect the ore. The relative size of the car and cyl- ICC canbe handled at one time with greater facile ity than would be otherwisepossible. Fun the'rmore, the car will automatically dump or clear itselfof refuse by releasing the locking means ofthe dumping-section. The caris constructed wholly of metal, the connections between the respectiveparts being such as to provide for ready renewal or repair when desired.I I

The tap-valve is constructed to counteract the expansive force of thematerial incident .to the contact thereof with the atmosphere and tofurther insure a sufficient heating of the material as to a liquidcondition. I

Both the salient features of the present invention tend to a moreeconomic smelting of sufur than heretofore possible, both from the factthat a less degree of heating agent and a greater quantity of ore isutilized in a given time and the choking of the delivery-valve is whollyprevented. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newis 1. The combination with an ore-smelting apparatus, of asmelting-cylinder, an orccharging car arranged for travel within thecylinder, a sump in open communication with the interior of thecylinder, and a tapvalve in communication with the sump, and means forheating the sump and tap-valve.

2. The combination with a smelting-cylinder having a sump and 'atap-valve leading therefrom, and means for heating the sump andtap-valve, of an ore-charging car adapted to be inserted within thecylinder and corresponding in contour to the contour of the cylinder andof less dimensions than the interior of the cylinder. I I

3. The combination with a smeltingcylin .der having a sump and atap-valveleading therefrom, and means for heating the sump andtap-valve, of an ore-charging car adapted to be inserted Within thecylinder and constructed of perforated sections. I

4. The combination with a smelting-cylinder having a sump and a tapvalveleading therefrom, and means for heating the sump and tap-valve, of anore-charging car ad apted to be inserted within the cvlinder andconstructed of perforated metallic sections, the the bottom of the carbeing inclined from the longitudinal center toward the side edges.

provide for its delivery in 5. The combination witha smeltingcylinderhaving a sump and a tap-valve leading therefrom, and means for heatingthe sump and tapvalve, of an ore-charging car adapted to beinsertedwithin the cylinder and constructed of perforated metallic sections, aplurality of said sections being mounted for independent movement toprovide dumpingseetions.

6. flhebcombination with a smelting-cylinder having asump and atap-valve leading therefrom, and means for heating the sump andtap-valve, of an ore-charging car adapted to be inserted within thecylinder and comprising a plurality of connected metallic sections,supporting-wheels for the car and housings partially inclosing thewheels.

7. The combination with a smelting-cylinder having a sump and atap-valve leading from the sump, and means for heating the sump andtap-valve, of an ore-charging car comprising a plurality of connectedmetallic sections, and supporting-wheels connected to one of thesections, one of the car-sections be ing integrally formed to providehousings for the wheels. I

8. The combination with a smelting-cylinder having a sump and atap-valve leading from the sump, and means for heating the sump andtap-valve, of an ore-charging car comprising a bottom section inclineddownwardly inboth directions from the longitudina-l center toward theside edges, end sections secured to the respcctlve ends of the bottomsection, fixed side sections secured to the end sections, anddumping-sections movably connected to the fixed side sections.

9. The combination with a smelting-cylinder having a sump and atap-valve leading therefrom, means for heating the sump and tap-valve,of an ore charging car comprising a bottom section inclined downwardlyinboth directions from the,longitudinal center toward the side edges, endsections secured to the respective ends of the bottom section, fixedside sections secured to the end sections, and dumping-sections hingedto the fixed side section, said hinge connections being secured on therelatively inner surface of the respective sections. I r

10. The combination with a smelting-cylinder having a sump and atap-valve leading from the sump, means for heating the sump andtap-valve, of an ore-charging car comprising a bottom section inclineddownward ly in both directions from the longitudinal center toward. theside edges, end sections secured to the respective ends of the bottomsection, fixed side sections secured to the end sections,dumpingsections hinged to the fixed side section, said hinge connectionsbeing secured on the relatively inner surfaces of the respectivesections, and means for securing the dumping-section in closed position.

' and tracks secured in the relatively lower portion of the cylinder, asump in communi" cation with the cylinder, a tap-valve leading .from thesump, of a metallic ore-charging car constructed of perforated sectionsarranged for travel on the track, the sectional area of the carconforming in contour with and being of slightly less dimension than thesimilar area of the cylinder.

12. The combination with a smelting-cylinder, an ore-charging caradapted for msertion within the cylinder, and a sump in communicationwith the cylinder, of a tap-valve for the sump, said valve being formedwith an expansion-chamber.-

13. The combination inder, an ore-charging car adapted for insertionwithin the cyhnder, a sump in communication with the cylinder, means forheating the sump, of a tap-valve for the sump, and means for heating thevalve. 4

14. The combination with a smelting-cylinder, an ore-charging caradaptedfor inserttion within the cylinder, a sump in communi-' cationwith the cylinder, and means for heating the sump, of atap-valve for thesump, said valve being formed with an expansionchamber and with asteam-jacket.

15/ The combination with a smelting-cylinder, an ore-charging caradapted for insertion within the, cyllnder, a sump in communi cationwith the cylinder, and means for heating the sump, of a tap-valve forthe sump integrally formed to provide an expansion-chamber above theoutlet from the valve.

16. The combination with a smelting-cylinder, an ore-charging caradaptedfor insertion within the cylinder, a sump in communication with thecylinder, and means for heating the sump, of a tap-valve for the sump,means for heating the valve, said valve comprising a hollowinverted-conc-shaped plug raving a discharge-opening at the reduced end,the inlet to the plug being formed about with a smelting-cylmidway itsheight, whereby to rovide an expansion-chamber above said in et.

17. The combination with a smelting-cyl- I inder, an ore-charging caradapted for movement within the cylinder, a sump in communication withthe cylinder, means for heating the sump, of a tap-valve incommunication with the sump, said valve comprising a valve-body formedwith an inverted-coneshaped plugseat, a lining of acid-resistingmaterial for said seat, a valve-plug fitting the seat, and asteam-jacketsurrounding the seat.

18. The combination with a smelting-cyl-v inder, an ore-charging caradapted for movement within the cylinder, a sump in communication withthe cylinder, means for heating the sump, of a tap-valve incommunication with the sump, said valve comprising a valve-body formedwith an inverted-coneshaped plug-seat, the body-between the plug seatand side wall being hollow to provide a heating-jacket, a hollowvalve-plug fitting the seat,'means for securing the plug in the seat,and means for adjusting the plug relative to the seat.

19. The combination with a smelting-cyl inder, an ore-charging caradapted for movementwithl'n the cylinder, a sump 1n communication w1ththe cylinder, means for heatlng the-sump, of a tap-valve in'communication with the sump, said valve comprising avalvebody formedwith a transverselydisposed port, a cone-shaped plug-seat openingthrough the body, a heating-jacket surrounding the seat, a valve-plugfitting the seat, said plug being formed with openings to' register withthe port in the body, a cover secured to the body and. overlying theplug,

and-'a gland-nut having threaded connectionwith the cover and bearingupon the plug.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses uEDWARD F. WHITE. Witnesses J. S. DowNs, SALVATOUARN CIANFRANI.

